The Word of God
W.H.T. writes us as follows:
On page 271 of “Scripture Truth” I notice the phrase, “the Bible, the word of God,” and again on page 286 the term “The word of God” is apparently applied to the Bible.
1. Am I right in saying that the “Word of God” is a title of dignity and glory applied to the Lord Jesus, and that it is this adorable Person spoken of in the following (amongst others) scriptures: — John 1: 1; Hebrews 4:1212For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) and 13; Hebrews 11:33Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (Hebrews 11:3); Revelation 1:22Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. (Revelation 1:2) and 9; Revelation 6:99And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: (Revelation 6:9); Revelation 20:44And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)?
2. Is there any scriptural authority for calling the Holy Scriptures or any part thereof the “Word of God”?
3. What do people mean by the term when they apply it to the Scriptures?
4. Assuming the title belongs to the Lord Jesus alone, would it not be in some degree derogatory to Him to apply it to the Scriptures as well?
We hold the Bible to be the very word of God; in it is communicated to men in human language the whole truth as to God, as He has been pleased to reveal Himself, and blessed indeed are they who have ears to hear.
In the case of the words of the Lord this will not be questioned, for we read, “He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God,” and again, “I have given unto them the words which Thou gavest me” (John 3:3434For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (John 3:34) and 17:8).
When we come to the testimony of the apostles we find that their words were not the words of man’s wisdom, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth (1 Cor. 2:1313Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:13)), and what they wrote was the commandments of the Lord (14:37).
In the Old Testament we have the “Thus saith the Lord” of Moses and the prophets, and the Lord spoke of the written commandments of Moses as “the word of God” (Mark 7:1313Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. (Mark 7:13)); and the prophecies are distinctly said to be the words of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1616Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. (Acts 1:16); Heb. 3:7; 4:7,7Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, (Hebrews 3:7)
7Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Hebrews 4:7) &c.).
There are, then, the distinct and direct words of God, which come under the head of revelation, and there is also the record of the lives and sayings of men, which were given by inspiration of God; but these latter are not merely historical writings, like the uninspired writings of men, and they cannot be judged by the same standard; but in them God makes known His ways with men, and therein is made manifest for our learning, what men are as departed from God, and what God is in His mercy and justice, His grace and righteousness towards men. The Old and New Testaments are both needed for this, and that we might have them “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:2121For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21)), and every scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:1616All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)), and so we rightly speak of the Bible as the word of God.
The expression the “word of God” occurs about forty times in the New Testament, and in most instances describes God’s testimony as to the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom is the whole revelation of the truth of God; this was committed to His servants, this they preached and for it they suffered gladly. This is all contained in the Scripture.
Several of the passages quoted in your letter do not refer to the Lord personally, but to this testimony of God. Revelation 1:22Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. (Revelation 1:2) and 9 relates to that which is going forth in this present day of Grace; and Revelation 6:9; 20:49And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: (Revelation 6:9)
4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4) to that which will go forth during the interval following the rapture of the Church and the coming of the Lord to His Kingdom.
Revelation 19:1313And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. (Revelation 19:13) presents the Lord personally as the One in and through whom God’s righteous judgment is displayed in the overthrow of all that is opposed to God.
John 1:11In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) stands alone. “The Word” occurs there as a title of Deity which none but the Son could claim; He is the full and perfect expression of all that God is, whether in creation, redemption or judgment. He could not be this were He not God, for only One who is Himself God can make God known to men; but the Word, who was in the beginning, who was with God and was God, was made flesh and dwelt among us for this purpose.
Everlasting Punishment
Question — Upon what texts do the holders of non-eternity of punishment base their views, and will you explain them and give some passages which prove this doctrine. — W.P.
The more advanced of those who deny the truth of eternity of punishment, do not appeal to any passage in the Bible: that Book is discarded by them as being without authority. R. J. Campbell tells us that what Paul wrote, for instance, should have less weight with us than the opinions of a pious mother; so that we are not surprised to have from his pen the statement, “Perhaps it would help to clear up the subject if I were to say frankly, before going any further, that there is no such thing as punishment, no far-off Judgment Day, no great white throne, and no Judge external to ourselves.” He makes this emphatic assertion without a shadow of proof, and has no authority for it except his own personal feelings on the subject. No earnest seeker after the truth will be satisfied with that.
There are others, of whom the late Canon Farrar was representative, who build up a doctrine of salvation after death upon the much discussed text, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit; By which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah” (1 Peter 3:18-2018For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. (1 Peter 3:18‑20)).
Their interpretation of this is that the gospel is preached to men after death, but there is no other passage in the Bible to support this view, moreover it is in direct contradiction to several plain scriptures, about which there can be no question. For instance, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment” (Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)).
We know that there are no contradictory teachings in the Holy Scriptures, so that this interpretation of the passage must be rejected, and one in keeping with the whole body of scriptural truth sought in its place.
The whole question hangs upon the time when the preaching to the spirits now in prison took place, and about this there ought not to be any difficulty.
This is confirmed in the account of the preaching in Genesis 6:3,3And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. (Genesis 6:3) where we read, “And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man... yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” And so in great longsuffering the Spirit of Christ — the Holy Spirit — continued to strive for 120 years, but men continued disobedient, and the door of mercy closed, and closed for them forever. There is not the slightest ground in this passage upon which to build the doctrine of hope for those who die without mercy (Heb. 10:28, 2928He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:28‑29)), and in their sins (John 8:2121Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. (John 8:21)).
The following passages speak clearly upon this solemn subject — everlasting punishment — and need no comment., —
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal (the same word in both oases) “ (Matt. 25:4646And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46)).
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:88But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)).
1 Corinthians 10
What is the meaning of the term, “The Lord’s Table”?
What does the expression “Partake of the Lord’s Table” convey?
Is it right to speak of being “At the Lord’s Table”?
Can believers “Receive (other believers) to the Lord’s Table”?
Do all true believers “partake of the Lord’s Table” or some only?
The Cup and Table speak in symbol of the foundation of Christian fellowship, which is the Lord’s death. The Cup is also described as “the cup of blessing”; it is the new testament in the blood of Christ; in it is set forth the blessing and love in which we are called to participate, blessing and love of which His blood is the pledge and token.
The Table probably brings the bread more into prominence, and here we have the communion of the body of Christ, and in breaking it we manifest our fellowship as one body. They are called the cup and table of the Lord in contrast to the cup and table of devils’; it was morally impossible to partake of, or “hold with,” (as the word means) both. In partaking there is complete identification with the Lord’s death in all the blessings and responsibilities attaching to this identification.
Scripture does not speak of being at the Lord’s Table; it is not a point of locality but a matter of Christian profession, and should be a great exercise as to whether our conduct and profession are consistent with each other.
We do not read of believers receiving other believers to the Lord’s Table, but we are exhorted to receive one another, and this of course is to Christian fellowship. In doing this we acknowledge those whom God has received. There may be doubt in the mind as to some, as in the case of Saul (Acts 9:26, 2726And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. (Acts 9:26‑27)), but when all question is settled it would be an act of disobedience to the Lord to refuse one of His own, except in such cases as are made abundantly clear by Scripture.
As to the last question, the chapter contemplates all true believers — the whole Christian “we” as breaking the one loaf (verses 16, 17) and so partaking of, or in communion with, the Lord’s table; not to do so is to be in an altogether anomalous position, whereas the chapter is treating of what is normal.
The State of the Dead
W.T.M. — It is evident that the spirits of those who die in the Lord are immediately present with Him (see Phil. 1:2323For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: (Philippians 1:23); Acts 7:5959And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59); Luke 23:4343And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)), and this must mean bliss for them, even though they remain in the disembodied state until the coming of the Lord, when their bodies will be raised in glory (1 Cor. 15:43, 51-5343It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: (1 Corinthians 15:43)
51Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑53)).
It is also clear that those who die without Christ are in the place of torment (Luke 16:2323And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:23) and 24), though they await the last resurrection when at the great white throne they receive their final sentence to the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-1511And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15)).